Yuki and Ten-chan

 

Part One

Up in the mountains of Japan, when kami still walked the earth, there lived an older couple who was tasked with tending the forest, and particularly, a majestic sacred cedar called Tengoku e no kaidan, the Stairway to Heaven.  They were devoted to their duty and after a time, they were rewarded with the birth of a daughter.  They named her Yuki, which means ‘snow’ as she arrived in the December winter.

Yuki was a happy child and as she grew, she fell in love with the forest that she helped care for alongside her parents.  She would spend days beneath the sacred tree which she teasingly named Ten-chan, or Little Heaven.  Sadly, time and work took their toll and her elderly parents passed away, leaving Yuki broken and alone.  So devastated by the loss of her parents, she stopped eating, growing thinner and weaker until she slipped away. 

It is said that her spirit became Sukima-onna, a girl who lives in the gaps of buildings, and indeed, when people would walk by the hut in the woods, you could hear her crying from the cracks of the home as the winds blew through.

 

Part Two

Many years later, a young man, a woodcutter by the name of Haru, was making his way through the forest.  An unexpected storm swept through the mountains, swirling snow all around him.  The silhouette of a small building appeared through the falling flakes, and Haru battled his way to the door, falling inside.  The blizzard was fierce, and Haru shivered in the cold.  He managed to get a small fire going; its pitiful heat provided a little bit of comfort.  What was more unpleasant, however, was the incessant wailing of the wind through the gaps in the walls.  He fell into a troubled sleep, dozing off to visions of a young woman watching him from the space between the wall and dresser.

When the morning broke, Haru braved the storm in search of more wood to feed the hut’s meager fire.  He stumbled upon a clearing whose center was dominated by a magnificent cedar.  “It will supply me with countless hours of firewood!” he thought.  But as he raised his axe, he was overcome with the majesty and beauty of the tree.  He lowered his axe and instead, in the blinding snow, he searched the ground for firewood for the night.

Later, when darkness fell and Haru had fallen asleep, a small glowing form made its way through the blizzard and slipped into the hut bearing a bundle of small sticks.  It was a Kodama, a forest spirit who honored Haru’s sparing of the sacred tree.  The sprite carried its gift; sticks tied with braided strips of red bark from the cedar.  It was kindling for the fire, and more wood followed, carried by a different Kodama.  Soon, there was a small parade of forest sprites who gifted pieces of wood to the thoughtful woodcutter who had saved their home.  They all smiled happily and tittered amongst themselves as the neat pile of wood continued to grow. 

Suddenly, the storm shook the hut, and a sad cry from Sukima-onna floated through the room.  The curious Kodama peered into the gap between the furniture and wall and recognized their former caretaker imprisoned in the gap.  They talked amongst themselves until, after a moment, they one by one inserted themselves into the crack.  The narrow space spread further and further apart until finally, the house freed its prisoner.  There was a raspy scrape as the dresser moved against the floor, and the young woman tumbled from the gap.

Haru woke with a start, and he stared at the confused girl sprawled on the floor.  Long black hair framed her face, her skin was pale, almost white.  She fearfully peered up at Haru, shivering from the cold.  Without hesitation, Haru sprang from his bed and threw a blanket over her.  “You poor girl!  You must be freezing!”  He held her for a few moments to warm her, rubbing her arms, then said, “Allow me to prepare a hot stew for you.”  He turned to stoke the fire, but stopped, startled by the neat stack of wood in the hut.  He hesitated, momentarily puzzled, then hurried to care for the shivering stranger sitting on the floor.

It took only minutes for him to prepare the meal, and he placed it carefully in front of her.  The steaming bowl warmed her hands as she wrapped them around his offering.  But as she leaned over to take a bite, her long hair threatened to spill into her stew.  “Just a moment,” he cautioned and looked around before spying the woven bark tied around the kindling.  He pulled it off and carefully wrapped the red cord around the young woman’s hair to tie it back.  “Now, please enjoy your meal,” he offered.

Her eyes were grateful, and Haru watched as color returned to her cheeks as she ate.  When she finished, she looked at him thankfully and asked, “I have been trapped in the betweenness of worlds.  How is it that I am here?”  There was a soft giggle from the outskirts of the firelight, and there, the shimmering forms of the Kodama stood in the shadows.  Yuki’s eyes grew wide with joy, her hand flying to her mouth, “Ten-chan?”  She spun around to address Haru, “I MUST go to see Ten-chan!”

She threw open the door of the hut, and the swirling snow paused, catching its breath.  Yuki raised her hands, parting the night, and the Kodama flickered brighter, bounding happily out into the drifts.  They lit a path through the woods, showing Yuki and Haru the way to the majestic cedar.  When they arrived in the clearing, the young woman stepped up to the tree, gently placing her hand on the trunk.  She turned to Haru and murmured, “This is Tengoku e no kaidan, the Stairway to Heaven, my childhood friend.”

Yuki untied the red cord from around her hair and fastened it around the trunk.  Leaning her forehead against the tree, she whispered, “A Shimenawa for you, Ten-chan.”  The sacred rope began to glow, and the young woman’s form began to shimmer.  As the Kodama quietly turned into balls of light, she smiled, joining them as they slowly floated upward into the branches.

Haru called out to the departing spirit, “Ten-chan will be protected; we will remember!” 

 

Deep in the forests of Japan, there lives an ancient red cedar, and every December, gifts tied with red cord are left beneath its branches that are decorated with softly glowing lights.

The Twelve Bitches: The Road Not Taken: Epilogue and Afterwords

 

Epilogue

“Exchange.”

            “Quebec-Romeo-Foxtrot, 0-1-0”

“Verified.  Authenticate.”

            “Foxtrot, Alpha, Sierra, Tango.”

“Verified.  Report.”

            “Three friendlies plus one civilian, A Plus.  Twenty, two zero, tangos KIA.”

“Nice save, 0-1-0.”

            “Negative, Exchange.  The situation was closed by the time we arrived.”

There was a long pause.  “0-1-0, verify the situation was closed upon your arrival?”

            “Affirmative.”

“0-1-0, are you saying three teachers-”

            “Negative.  TWO teachers, one student.”

There was a longer pause this time.  “Acknowledge two teachers, one student closed.”

            “Affirmative.”

“Twenty, two zero, tangos KIA…”

            “We’re going to need a lot of cleaners…an Engineered solution and a press release.”

There was a deep sigh.  “Cleaners, Engineered solution, press release.  Anything else?”

            “Negative.  End call.”

“End call.”

 

 

Later that day, the press reported that a mysterious explosion in West Texas was traced to a remote militia camp with ties to the white supremacist movement.  Twenty militia members were killed in an explosion in their armory.

 

  

Afterwords

The morning air was cool and calm.  Two girls sat quietly in the courtyard, the younger girl leaning against the other.  “What happens now,” Rachel asked quietly.

Emma smiled, “Have you ridden in a helicopter before?  These people will take care of you and fly you home.”  She put her arm around Rachel and gave her a quick squeeze.  “What did you learn?”

Rachel’s eyes grew large, and she ticked off on her fingers, “Be careful on the internet.  Don’t get into dangerous situations.  If something happens, no one has to give me permission to defend myself, be a badass.  I have power in my house.”  She looked carefully at Emma and intoned, “Kore ga watashinoiedesu.” 

“Rachel?”  Miss Lean called from across the courtyard, and the two girls got up from the bench.  “It’s time to go.”

Rachel took a couple of steps, then ran back to wrap Emma in a tight hug.  “Kore ga watashinoiedesu, Emma.  You’re welcome in my house anytime.”  She gave another squeeze and ran to the waiting helicopter.

The Twelve Bitches: The Road Not Taken: Chapter 10

 

The girls barged through the door and slammed it shut behind them.  Emma threw the bolt to lock it, then leaned heavily against the door.  The false dawn was beginning to sift through the windows, highlighting her tired face.  She put a comforting hand on Rachel’s shoulder, “We should be okay in here.”  No sooner had the words left her mouth than the sounds of gunfire erupted from the far end of the building.  Someone was shooting their way through the other door.

“Can’t a person catch a break?”  Exasperated, Emma nudged Rachel to the stairs.  “Top of the stairs, first door on the left,” she whispered.  “That’s my room, I’ll be right behind you.”  She watched as the younger girl moved up the stairs, then went to the com panel by the door.  “Cerberus, turn off the lights in the Residence please.” 

The lights flickered off, and the calm voice intoned, “There are four intruders in the Residence.”

Her eyes darted down the hallway.  “Oh great…”

 

She met Rachel right inside her door.  “We got to get you to a secure room.”  Emma reached into her closet and pulled out a tactical vest.  “There’s one under the other set of stairs,” she whispered as she slipped into the vest.  “But there’s some people in the way.”  Her throwing knives came out next, and she started slapping them onto the vest. 

Rachel watched, dumbfounded.  “Why don’t they fall off?  How do they stay in place?”

“Hmm?” Emma looked puzzled for a moment and glanced down at her vest.  “Oh…Magnets.”   She froze as she heard footsteps outside her door.  “Quick!  Get in the closet,” she hissed.  Rachel melted into the closet and closed it just as the bedroom door creaked open.

The barrel of a long gun pushed into the room as the door slowly swung open.  Emma, hiding behind the coat rack in the corner, watched as a shadowy figure poked its head into the room.  It scanned the room, then paused, pointing the rifle at the closet.  The intruder took a step into the room and reached for the door.  At that moment, Emma leapt from her hiding place, a knife in each hand.

From inside the closet, Rachel heard the soft thump of something hitting the floor.  She held her breath, her phone clutched in her hand, ready to defend herself.  There was a tap on the door, then a whisper.  “Rachel?  It’s me.”  Relieved, she opened the door to find Emma offering her hand.  “Don’t trip.”  There was something on the floor covered by a blanket in front of the closet.  A dark stain was slowly spreading under the material.

“Hey, look at me.”  Emma’s voice cut through Rachel’s rising panic.  “Look at me,” she repeated, “We’re okay.”  She gently touched Rachel’s cheek and turned her face to look into her eyes.  “We’re going to leave this room, turn right and go down the hallway to the other stairwell.  There’s a secure room under the stairs.”  Checking her resolve, Emma asked, “Are you ready?”

Rachel’s voice was shaky, but her gaze was steady.  “I’m ready.”

“Okay, follow me.  Let’s go.”  The two girls stepped over the body and exited the room.  As they made their way to the stairs, Emma spotted someone peeking from behind the corner.  She whipped out a knife and threw it down the hallway, watching it curve around the wall.  A dark form fell into the passageway, the knife handle protruding from the victim’s eye.  Emma ran toward the intruder, “Two in the body, one in the head.  Two in the body, one in the head.”  She pounced on the man, driving two knives into the quivering figure.  Footsteps were racing up the stairs.  “Kore ga watashinoiedesu!” she screamed, and two more knives found their mark.

An eerie stillness descended on the hallway, and Emma leaned against the wall, catching her breath.  She turned towarrd Rachel and motioned her close, “We’re almost there-”

At the other end of the corridor, Bobby was dragging Rachel forward.  “You shoulda just given her back…”

Emma’s shoulders dropped in resignation.  “Rachel,” she sighed quietly, “what’s the first thing you learned?”

Her protégé’s eyes grew wide, then, “NOOOOO!”  She screamed and drove her cell phone into Bobby’s forearm, breaking his grip.  She ran to Emma who grabbed her and shielded her from the attacker’s furious gaze.  Keeping her focus on Bobby, Emma murmured to Rachel, “Under the stairs, push on the wall, lock the door behind you.  Go.”  She felt a quick squeeze of her hand, and then she was gone.

“I told you to leave her,” Emma shouted, “You shoulda listened.”  Bobby raised his rifle; Emma flung a knife toward his head, nicking his ear.  Throwing herself down the staircase, she muttered, “Come on, follow me you bastard.”  There was the satisfying sound of boots crashing down the stairway as she dashed from the Residence, followed by the sound of bullets whipping past her as she wove back and forth across the courtyard towards the dojo.

She crashed through the double doors and spun around, backing up as Bobby burst into the gym.  He was cursing and working the bolt on his rifle, then thew it aside in disgust.  His eyes fell upon the swords on the rack near the door, and with a grin, snatched one off the wall.  “You cut me, you bitch.  Now I’m going to cut you back.”

Emma backed away, her hands behind her, searching for something, anything.  Her hands brushed against the wall; a smooth handle of a bokken settled in her grip. 

He laughed as she whipped the bokken in front of her; her hands shaking, the tip of the wooden practice sword wavering.  He grinned and slowly drew the katana to meet the quivering bokken.  Suddenly, he slapped it aside with the flat side of his sword then watched as it flew off to the side, shattering one of the dojo’s mirrors.

He turned to look back at Emma, feeling a bit puzzled.  She was standing in front of him still, but there was a knife in her hand that was stained with blood.  He started to say something to her, but the words wouldn’t come, and the room was starting to spin.  He toppled to the floor, too late to realize his mistake.

She took a deep, ragged breath and knelt next to the sprawled body of her enemy.  Emma shook her head. “A weapon can hurt you,” she admonished, “but it is the person who will kill you.”

 

Miss Lena was racing to the Residence when Cerberus proclaimed, “We’re clear.  All buildings are secure.  All intruders are neutralized.” 

“Casualties?  Is everyone okay?” asked the house mother, her voice tinged with worry.

“Twenty enemy casualties,” the computer intoned.  “Zero friendly casualties.”

Miss Lena sighed with relief.  “Cerberus, locate Emma please.”

“Miss Couteau is in the dojo.”

When the house mother made her way into the training room, she found Emma sitting quietly on the floor, a body crumpled next to her.  She stopped, carefully studying the young girl’s face.  “Are we good?” she asked quietly.

Emma took a deep breath.  “We’re good.”

 

The sound of helicopters arriving greeted the dawn.

The Twelve Bitches: The Road Not Taken: Chapter 9

Emma peered through her scope at the first car and exhaled.  “It’s deliberate,” she breathed.  The first shot tore through the radiator; steam spewed into the air.  “It’s precise.”  The next shot took out something in the engine, and the driver stomped on his brake, slewing across the road.  “And it’s efficient.”  The third shot ricocheted off the engine block into the truck, fragmenting and sending shrapnel and chaos through the passenger compartment.  The second SUV slammed into the first and skidded into the ditch.  The third car clipped the rear of the second and veered to the opposite side.

“Wow,” she murmured, staring at the mayhem.  She shook her head and took a breath.  “Okay, time to go.”  She straightened up, ran to the secure room, and banged on the door, “Rachel!  It’s me, Emma!  We gotta haul ass!” 

The door sprang open.  Rachel’s eyes were wide, her breath, rapid.  She was slightly panicked and searching for answers.  “Are we okay?  I heard shots.”  Gunfire erupted below, and she shrieked and covered her ears.

Emma dropped the rifle and pulled her down to a crouch.   “We’re doing okay.  It’s just a little busy downstairs.”  A series of explosions rocked the building as the claymore mines in the ditch detonated, throwing dirt and debris into the air.  The cloud of smoke would hide them, she realized; this would be the time to move.  “Let’s get away from all this dust!” 

Rachel bit her lip, “I’m ready.”  She ducked her head down as Emma grabbed her hand.  The two girls raced down the hall toward the safety of the Residence.

 

“Our claymores rendered eight opposing combatants ineffective,” Cerberus reported calmly through the headset. 

“Where are the others?” asked Miss Lena.  She leaned into her rifle, studying the firing pattern of one of the shooters.

“There are eight active targets in the ditch near the vehicles – correction, six active targets.  Master Sasaki has dispatched two combatants.”

The house mother counted softly, “Bang, bang, pause.  Bang, bang, pause.”  Her opponent rose up, took two shots, then ducked down.  He stood up again –

Cerberus noted matter-of-factly, “There are now five active combatants in the ditch – correction, four combatants.”

Miss Lena wrinkled her brow, thinking hard.  Something wasn’t adding up.  Suddenly, she blurted out, “CERBERUS, where are the other four??”

 His reply was calm, as always, “There are four combatants breaching the Residence.” 

The Twelve Bitches: The Road Not Taken: Chapter 8

Master Sasaki silently appeared at Emma’s side, putting his hand on her arm to lower the machine gun.  “It is okay,” he said softly, “I have Cerberus watching the perimeter.  The computer will let us know if someone gets too close.”

“Who ARE these people?”  Emma shook her head.  “What’s going on?”

Miss Lena joined them on the balcony and motioned them over to the situation room.  “I think I know who they are.  Can we look the security footage though?  I think I saw something on one of their hands.”  Master Sasaki replayed the video from the front of the compound.  “There,” the house mother interrupted, “Sensei, what’s that on the back of his hand?”

He zoomed in and they all leaned in to look at the monitor.  Tattooed on the back of the man’s hand were the stylized letters DD. “Kuso,” Sensei spat.

Miss Lena glanced over at him.  “Dammit, indeed.”  She looked up at Emma with an explanation, “That tattoo is the mark of the Dextera Dei, The Right Hand of God.  They’re a right-wing white supremist group.”  She straightened up and twisted her long blonde hair into a bun.  “They’re very old-school, very misogynistic, very militant.”  She unlocked a gun cabinet and pulled out a Benelli M4 shotgun and slung it over her back. 

Suddenly, Cerberus announced from the speakers, “Three vehicles approaching.  I’ve identified twenty, two zero subjects.  Handguns and assault rifles.  Time to intercept: two minutes.”

Miss Lena’s eyes darkened.  “Cerberus, Protocol Z.”  She pulled a Sig MCX Spear assault rifle from the cabinet.  Then, with a grim tone, she turned to Emma.  “Protocol Z triggers a Quick Reaction Force from San Antonio.  Never had to use it before, so this should be interesting.”  She shrugged.  “The bad news is that it takes about two hours for the Blackhawk helicopters to get here.”  She took a sniper rifle from the cabinet and handed it to her student.  “So,” she took a deep breath, “all we have to do is hold out for two hours.”  She glanced at Master Sasaki who held up his katana.  She gave him a quick nod, and he dashed out of the room, leapt from the terrace, and disappeared into the dark.

Out on the balcony, the house mother pointed down the driveway.  “When the first vehicle gets inside the gate, right past the ditch, disable the car.  Two, maybe three shots between the headlights.  When the bad guys jump into the ditch, we have a surprise for them.”  She looked up, “Here they come.”  She put her hand on Emma’s arm.  “Take out the car, grab Rachel, fall back to the residence.”  She gave her arm a quick squeeze, “Trust your training.”  She slipped a computer earphone on and tapped it, “Cerberus, connect… Get ready for our guests…”  With a taut smile, Miss Lena turned and ran down the stairs.

The Twelve Bitches: The Road Not Taken: Chapter 7

 

A speck of light appeared in the rear-view mirror.  Emma stared at it for a moment and pressed on the gas, her small car leapt forward.

Next to her, Rachel felt the vehicle surge.  She turned around in her seat and looked backward.  Her small voice wavered, “Is it them?”

Emma answered calmly, softly, “I don’t know, but it never hurts to be prepared.”  She toggled her phone.

Even at that early hour of the morning, Miss Lena’s perky voice lit up the interior of the car.  “Hello, Emma!” her happy greeting began.  “Is everything alright?”

“I’m okay for now.  I’m coming back to the school.”  She glanced in the mirror.  “I have someone in my car who needed my help, and we’re being pursued.”

The house mother was mater-of-fact, “I understand you have one passenger.  What is your threat assessment?”

“The vehicle is a commercial grade, dark-colored crew cab pickup truck.  Four -” Emma glanced at Rachel, who nodded, eyes widening, “four tangos.  Unknown weapons, if any.”

“Understand four tangos, unknown load-out.  Your ETA?”

Emma glanced at her car’s screen, “Estimated Time of Arrival approximately 15, one five, minutes.”

Miss Lena’s voice was soothing and direct.  “Enter the courtyard.  We’ll secure the door behind you when you arrive.  The welcoming committee will be waiting.  See you soon.”

Emma sent one last message.  “They’re pissed.”

There was a pause.  “…Understood…”

 

Emma raced down the dirt road toward the Academy.  The glowing lights from the school were a welcome sight, and she sped through the open doors of the courtyard.  She skidded to a stop, a cloud of dust settling around the car.  Her driving app had said fifteen minutes; she was leaping from her car in ten.  “What do we do?” she called, as she spotted Miss Lena.  The teacher, her hair up in her usual ponytail, had traded her pink skirt and heels for a pastel blue sweatsuit and matching sneakers.  She pushed the heavy doors to the courtyard closed and dropped the bar into place.

The house mother turned and handed Emma an MP5.  “Your guest stays close to you,” she said with a smile.  She turned to the younger girl and extended her hand, “Hi, my name is Miss Lena.  Emma will take good care of you.” 

Rachel blinked and shook her hand.  “Hi,” she whispered shyly. 

Miss Lena turned back to talk to Emma, “Go to the second-floor balcony that looks over the front driveway; she can stay in the secure room up there for now.  Master Sasaki is in the next room over in the situation room providing overwatch.”

“What are you going to do?”  A concerned expression crossed Emma’s face.

“Well, I’m going to talk to them first.”  Smiling, she patted her student’s arm.  “While I do that, you’re going to cover me from up there,” she motioned to the walkway.  Her voice became serious, “Watch your field of fire, and remember, these aren’t paper targets.”  She studied Emma’s face.  “Will you be okay?”

Her eyes narrowed, “Yes, ma’am.”

“Alright,” she gave Emma’s arm a squeeze.  “We’ll talk in a little bit.”  Her house mother turned, her ponytail swaying, and tucked a handgun into a holster behind her back.  Taking a deep breath, she stepped outside to wait for the visitors.

 

From her vantage point upstairs, Emma watched as the dark colored crew cab sped up the driveway.  She ushered Rachel into one of the rooms, handing her a set of noise-cancelling headphones.  “Find some nice music to listen to,” she said, smiling.  “Mash this button to lock the door.  I’ll be right outside, someone else is right next door.  I’ll come get you in a minute.”  She gave the young girl a thumbs up and was rewarded with a quick hug. 

“Be careful,” Rachel peeped as the door closed.

Emma turned her attention to the driveway.  Suddenly, strong spotlights bathed the front of the school, illuminating the scene in an eerie light.  The pickup skidded to a halt and Bobby stepped out of the passenger side of the truck.  “Give that Rachel girl back!” he screamed to Miss Lena, “She belongs to me!”  Emma watched carefully, her gun ready. 

Miss Lena’s calm voice echoed in the quiet desert air.  “I’m afraid I can’t do that, sir.”

The driver side door creaked open, and Emma called out, “I would not do that, mister.” The driver froze, then slowly retreated back into the truck.  Bobby’s gaze shot up to the balcony, taking in the sight of the young student, a machine gun poised and ready.  Miss Lena took that opportunity to move to the side and flank the truck.  She quickly drew her firearm.

Her steady voice was clear and deliberate, “We do not use our guns to scare people, sir.  We use them to stop people.  I suggest you go back to where you came from and just calm down.” 

Bobby’s eyes narrowed, and he put up his hands.  “We’re not done here,” he spat, and slowly climbed back into the truck.  “Y’all are going to regret this.”  The truck’s engine growled, and the driver threw the vehicle into reverse.  It slew around on the gravel, turning away from the school, and retreated down the drive.  About a quarter of a mile away, the headlights finally stopped, the truck sitting quietly, a wolf studying its prey.

Emma watched quietly.  “Kore ga watashinoiedesu.”

The Twelve Bitches: The Road Not Taken: Chapter 6

Emma’s mind was whirling.  How did Bobby’s family find them?  She spoke thoughtfully, quietly probing, “Bobby’s family found us somehow…” 

“How did they do that?” cried Rachel, “What do we do now?”

Emma breathed a silent sigh of relief.  From Rachel’s response, she could rule out the idea that the girl had somehow called Bobby.  Suddenly, something clicked.  “You said that when he met you at the mall, he had a gift for you?”

Rachel’s hand flew to her neck.  “He put this necklace on me in the truck.”  She yanked it off.

“Throw it out,” Emma ordered.  “Check your pockets just to make sure he didn’t slip anything into them.”  Rachel patted herself down, turning her pockets inside out to double check, then tossed the necklace out the window.  “I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”  Tears welled up in her eyes.

“Not your fault,” Emma consoled the young girl.  “It didn’t occur to me.  I was just trying to figure out how he kept finding us.”

“Is it over?” sniffed Rachel.

Emma took a deep breath.  “I sure hope so.  I’m tired of seeing these people.”

Rachel, on the verge of crying, rubbed her nose on her sleeve.  “I just want to go home.”

“Hey, you know what?” Emma jumped in to distract her.  “I still need to teach you some self-defense!”

Her passenger blinked several times and swallowed.  “Really?  You can teach me something right now?”

“Well sure!”  Emma smiled at her, thinking fast.  “What’s something that you probably have with you all the time?”

The corner of Rachel’s mouth turned up a tiny bit.  “My phone…”  She took it out of her pocket and held it in her hands.

“Of course!  Now here’s what you’re going to do,” she encouraged.  “Remember, someone is trying to hurt you, so you’re going to go all out, don’t hold back.”

“Don’t hold back,” the girl repeated.

“Exactly.  Now hold your phone like you’d hold a rock,” Emma glanced over and nodded.  “Just like that.”  She smiled, “That’s perfect.”  Taking a breath, she continued, “If you wanted to hit somebody with your fists, they’re just not hard enough.  But take that phone and hit someone with the edge of it?  They’re going to feel it.”

Rachel’s eyes grew large.  “Where do I hit them?” she asked quietly.

“Do you remember what I told you that you should know?”

She thought for a moment.  “Don’t be there,” she recalled.

“That’s it,” Emma replied.  “So you’re going to want to get away.  Let me tell you what will probably happen.  They’re going to come after you, so try to get away first.  If you can’t, pull out your phone and get ready.”

Rachel bit her lip, listening hard.  “Okay.”

“They’re going to grab you, but don’t be scared.  You have a plan.”

“I have a plan,” she repeated.

 Emma gave her a tight smile, “Yes you do.  When they grab you, right away, strike back.  They’re not going to expect it.  As loud as you can, you’re going to yell NO and take the edge of that phone and smack them right in the middle of their forearm.  As hard as you can!”

“As hard as I can!” she intoned.

“They’re going to let go, and then…”  Emma waited.

“And then I run away…” A smile of wonder crossed Rachel’s face.

Emma repeated softly, “And then you run away.” 

The Twelve Bitches: The Road Not Taken: Chapter 5

 

‘THAT way’ was back to the school.   It would take a few hours, but it was the closest thing to sanctuary that Emma could think of.  As the two drove down the highway, Emma frequently checked her rearview mirror as Rachel sat quietly, her legs pulled up and her arms around her knees.  The young girl kept glancing over at Emma and finally asked, “How do you know all this stuff?”

“Hmm?  What stuff?” Emma answered.

“Like the taking-out-assholes-in-restrooms stuff, the driving-in-the-dark-at-night stuff, the kore ga whatchamacallit stuff…”

Emma glanced over at Rachel with a little smile.  “I learned it in school.”

Rachel shook her head and said, “I don’t think my school has anything like that.”

“Well no, I don’t suppose it would.”  Emma mused, “I didn’t have a typical childhood, I guess.”  She took a deep breath and changed the topic.  “We need to come up with a plan.”

“A plan sounds good,” Rachel responded.  “Can you teach me some self-defense moves?”

Emma furrowed her brows for a moment before she replied.  “I’ll be happy to.  I think everyone should know some self-defense.”

Rachel nodded her head in agreement.  “I know, right?”  She held up her hands, ready to make a karate chop.  “What’s the first thing I should know?”

Emma was calm and thoughtful as she spoke.  “One of the first things you should learn is ‘don’t be there,’” she said simply.

“Wait, what?”  Rachel’s hands dropped slightly.

Emma smiled and explained, “Self-defense is all about protecting yourself.  So the first thing is, ‘Don’t be there.’  In a broad sense, avoid situations and locations where you might be in danger.  Try and keep danger at least at arm’s length.”  She glanced over at Rachel, who looked slightly disappointed about what Emma had just said. 

She sensed that Rachel was looking for something more active, so she continued, “But sometimes, you don’t have a choice, or you don’t expect that something is going to happen.  Someone comes into your personal space.  So the second thing is; when something goes down, be fearless, believe in yourself, push through your fears to the other side.  No one has to give you permission to protect yourself.”

Rachel blinked a couple of times.  “What if I hurt them?” her voice shook just a little.

Emma pursed her lips.  “Generally, I think most people don’t really want to hurt other people.”  She gave Rachel a sympathetic look.  “But, if someone is trying to hurt you, or you need to protect someone, all bets are off.  In that case, don’t be afraid.”  Emma stared at the dark road ahead.  “Yell in your loudest voice ‘NO’ to tell them to stop, but also to tell yourself ‘No’; as in, they have NO power over you.  And then…” she shrugged, “become an unstoppable force.”  Emma reached over and tapped Rachel above her belly button.  “This is your core, this is your house.  You have power in your house.  Kore ga watashinoiedesu.”

Rachel looked down and unconsciously rubbed the spot.  “…I have power,” she murmured.

 

Emma checked the clock.  It had been about an hour and a half since the encounter at the rest stop, and she needed a break.  A truck stop loomed ahead, one of those large 24-hour places, and she pulled in, happy to have the chance to put some gas into the tank and stretch her legs.  From the passenger seat, Rachel, who had been dozing, blinked her eyes and yawned.  “I need to pee.  Can we get some snacks or something too?”

“Sure,” Emma replied, “that sounds good.”  She pulled up to a pump, and Rachel climbed out and went inside.  Emma rubbed her face, got out, and stretched, trying to release the tension in her body.  Sighing, she turned on the pump and slid the nozzle into the vehicle.  As she leaned against her car, she closed her eyes and grabbed a moment of rest.

“Where’s Rachel?!” a voice yelled.  Emma’s eyes blinked open, and she cursed herself.  She had zoned out and failed to notice the truck that had pulled up behind her car.   She spun around to face the truck, only to see Bobby climbing out of the crew cab.  An older version of Bobby, his father perhaps, was getting out of the driver’s side.

She heard Rachel scream and saw her standing in the middle of the parking lot.  Her fists were clenched and she screamed again, “NOOOOO!”

Emma whipped around and nodded, forcefully saying to Rachel.  “Get in the car!” 

Then she snatched the gas nozzle from her car and turned back toward the two men.  “Leave her,” she said flatly.  The two men took a couple of steps and Emma slowly shook her head.  They paused for a moment and looked at each other.  When they moved toward Emma again, she gave them a small smile, then squeezed the handle of the gas hose.  Gasoline spewed toward the two, soaking them, making them sputter and cough.  She hosed them down again.  Then she calmly jammed the nozzle into the front grill of their truck and locked it open.

Satisfied, she turned and walked to her car and climbed in.  Rachel glanced at her, wide-eyed, her mouth searching for words.  “You did great.  You should buckle up,” Emma said evenly.  She looked in her rear-view mirror at the two men staggering around, gasping for air.  “We should leave.”

The Twelve Bitches: The Road Not Taken: Chapter 4

Rachel appeared to shrink in her seat.  “Do you think it’s them?”  Her voice was small and shaky.

“I’m not sure,” Emma replied, “but it might be.  There are a few things we can do.”  She pointed to an overpass in the distance.  “That’s our chance.”  She quickly killed her lights, and in the dark, raced for the off ramp.  There was just enough moonlight for Emma to navigate the roadway, and she expertly downshifted through the gears to slow the car without having to use the brakes.  She made the turn to get onto the overpass and brought the car to a halt.  “Let’s take a look at who that is,” she said and climbed out of the car.  They had maybe a minute before the car passed, she figured.

“Won’t they see us?” Rachel whispered.

“We’re on the far side of the bridge, so they won’t see the car,” Emma reassured her.  “And we won’t stand where the headlights will catch us, but where we can see them as they pass.  It will be safe.”

“Are you sure?” asked Rachel.

Emma leaned in toward her, “I’m sure.”  Then she smiled, “Don’t be scared.  They won’t see us.  They can’t hear us either, so you don’t have to whisper.”

“Oh, right.” Rachel wrapped her arm around herself.  “I’m just…”

“You’ve got a lot on your mind,” Emma said simply.  “We’ll sort it out.” She glanced at the highway.  “As for now, let’s see who this is.”  They made their way to the edge of the bridge as the headlights passed under the overpass.

A dark pickup with a crew cab raced by.  Rachel gave a small gasp.  “It’s them.”

Emma nodded grimly.  “Okay then.  They’re going THAT way, so we’re going to go-” she pointed in the opposite direction, “-THAT way.”

The Twelve Bitches: The Road Not Taken: Chapter 3

Emma glanced in her rear-view mirror.  There were no headlights giving chase, but it would only be a matter of time before the people in the truck would respond.  The long stretches of Texas highway would allow her to see anyone behind her for miles, and right now, Emma figured the best thing to do would be to put as much distance between her car and those people. 

A soft sniffle brought her attention back into her car.  Emma gave Rachel a quick glance.  The girl had drawn her knees up and had her arms wrapped around them.  Emma spoke softly, comfortingly, “You’re okay Rachel.  You’re with me.  It’s going to be alright.”

A large tear rolled down Rachel’s cheek.  “I thought he was going to kill you.  I thought he was going to kill you and then I’d never have another chance to get away.”

“Well, you’re here with me now.  I’ll keep you safe.”  Emma promised.  She paused for a few moments, then asked, “What was that all about anyway?”

Rachel cried softly.  “Bobby said he was going to make me his wife-”

“Wait, that guy is your fiancé??”

“No!” Rachel exclaimed.  “He’s just a guy I met on the internet.”  Then she sighed miserably.  “I don’t know how this happened.”

Emma furrowed her brow.  “So how did it get from ‘just a guy you met on the internet’ to he’s going to make you his wife?”

 Rachel wiped the tears from her face.  “It all started when I was in a chat room.  Bobby messaged me.  He was all nice, told me how pretty I looked, how special I was.  I thought that was sweet.  We started chatting pretty regular after that.”  The car raced through the dark as Rachel reminisced.  “After a few weeks, he said that we should meet.  And I thought it would be cool, so we set up a time and place.  I decided that the mall would be a safe place with lots of people around.”

Emma looked over at the troubled young girl.  “Did you tell anyone that you were meeting him?”

Rachel’s lower lip trembled.  “No.  Bobby was a secret.  I mean, I told my friends that I had met someone special in a chat room, but they didn’t know I was going to meet him.”  She glanced hesitantly at Emma.  “Please don’t judge me.  I know I was stupid.”

Emma shook her head.  “You weren’t stupid.  You were taken advantage of.  Guys like that know what to say to trick people.”

“But still, I should have known better.  He said he had a present for me in his truck, so we went out to the parking lot,” Rachel continued.  “That’s when he grabbed me and threw me in the truck.”  She started to cry again.  “When I screamed, some guy came over and then Bobby pulled out a knife and stabbed him.  He was just left lying in the parking lot.  It’s all my fault,” she sobbed.

The storm of emotions that swirled in Emma’s mind would have to wait.  For the moment, Emma needed to give Rachel a steady place to stand.  She shook her head emphatically, “Not your fault.  There was an unfortunate crossing of different paths.  You walk your path, not someone else’s.”

There was a small hiccup and then Rachel asked, “What does that mean?”

“We make choices in our lives; we choose our path.  We don’t choose the path that other people take.  Those paths cross and things happen.”  Emma was quiet for a few moments, then said, “The difficult part is learning to accept the choices that we make.  Kore ga watashinoiedesu.”

“I heard you say that back in the restroom!” Rachel exclaimed.  “What does that mean?”

Emma pursed her lips and flashed back to those first days in Sensei’s class.  “Literally, it translates to ‘this is my house.’  It means you control what happens around you; your choices, your actions, the consequences, how you move on after that.  You have power in your house.”

The younger girl nodded.  “When you said that back at the rest stop, it was like it gave you superpowers.”

Emma allowed herself a small smile.  “I’m no superhero; I’ve just had some training.”

“Can you teach me?” Rachel asked.

Emma gave her a glance before her eyes flickered to the rear-view mirror, “There are some things I could teach you.  But not right now.”

“Why not now?”

“I think,” Emma said as she stole another look at the mirror, “that we’re going to have some company.”  She pressed her foot down on the accelerator as Rachel turned around in her seat.  Off in the distance, there was a faint glow of approaching headlights.